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31 Animated GIFs of Bone Crushing Rugby Hits

There are so many different sports out there that are worthy of my attention, and I just don’t have time to follow them all. So because I live in North America, where gridiron football is king, that’s the version I pay the most attention to. However, I’m pretty sure that, if I lived in one of the parts of the world where rugby is the predominant form of football, I would be a huge rugby fan. As far as I can tell, the only thing not to like about the sport is the lack of the forward pass, and I think the lack of pads and almost superhuman toughness of the players would more than make up for that.

Don’t believe it? Take a look at these GIFs of bone crushing rugby hits, tackles, and other displays of brute force. You won’t regret it.

There are so many different sports out there that are worthy of my attention, and I just don’t have time to follow them all. So because I live in North America, where gridiron football is king, that’s the version I pay the most attention to. However, I’m pretty sure that, if I lived in one of the parts of the world where rugby is the predominant form of football, I would be a huge rugby fan. As far as I can tell, the only thing not to like about the sport is the lack of the forward pass, and I think the lack of pads and almost superhuman toughness of the players would more than make up for that.

Don’t believe it? Take a look at these GIFs of bone crushing rugby hits, tackles, and other displays of brute force. You won’t regret it.

Um, yeah, get the f#@$ out of my way.

31. Who's Tackling Who?

Um, yeah, get the f#@$ out of my way.

When you hit this hard, you can wear whatever color you want. Hell, you can wear a dress if that floats your boat.

30. Real Men Wear Pink

When you hit this hard, you can wear whatever color you want. Hell, you can wear a dress if that floats your boat.

This dude got knocked into the next decade. He’s gonna wake up and ask, is Obama still president? And we’re gonna be like, no, dude, Jeb Bush is.

29. Brutality

This dude got knocked into the next decade. He’s gonna wake up and ask, is Obama still president? And we’re gonna be like, no, dude, Jeb Bush is.

This is just simple physics, really. There’s not way poor #12 was going to stop this beast.

28. Amateur Player, Pro Force

This is just simple physics, really. There’s not way poor #12 was going to stop this beast.

Yeah, you’re not allowed to do that. But of course, rugby players do lots of things you’re not allowed to do.

27. Upended

Yeah, you’re not allowed to do that. But of course, rugby players do lots of things you’re not allowed to do.

Yep, it’s still not allowed. This kind of stuff gets dudes suspended.

26. Upended Again

Yep, it’s still not allowed. This kind of stuff gets dudes suspended.

You don’t have to be a giant to deliver a devastating hit.

25. Mack Truck

You don’t have to be a giant to deliver a devastating hit.

Sure, he didn’t have the ball, but why not give him a good blow just to let him know you’re there.

24. Unnecessary Awesomeness

Sure, he didn’t have the ball, but why not give him a good blow just to let him know you’re there.

Even the rugby mascots are badasses.

23. Mascot Tackle

Even the rugby mascots are badasses.

Apparently this hit is legal. You can’t tackle a defensive player who is jumping to catch a ball kicked by the offensive team, but you can hit him if both feet are on the ground.

22. Fair Catch, Shmair Catch

Apparently this hit is legal. You can’t tackle a defensive player who is jumping to catch a ball kicked by the offensive team, but you can hit him if both feet are on the ground.

Nope, not allowed to punch guys in the side of the head.

21. More Illegal Tactics

Nope, not allowed to punch guys in the side of the head.

That’s one way to do it.

20. Pickup Artist

That’s one way to do it.

As tough as rugby is, you’re still not allowed to punch and knee your opponent when he’s lying motionless on the ground.

19. The After Party

As tough as rugby is, you’re still not allowed to punch and knee your opponent when he’s lying motionless on the ground.

Sometimes the ref is just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

18. Referee Tackle

Sometimes the ref is just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Okay, so this is actually Australian Football, not rugby. But the two sports are pretty damn close, this hit is absolutely vicious, and I made the list. So it’s in.

17. Flying Knee to the Chest

Okay, so this is actually Australian Football, not rugby. But the two sports are pretty damn close, this hit is absolutely vicious, and I made the list. So it’s in.

It’s not just the pros who get a little overzealous when making tackles.

16. Body Slam

It’s not just the pros who get a little overzealous when making tackles.

The guy with the ball is an absolute tank. The guy trying to stop him just gets run right over.

15. Like a Tank

The guy with the ball is an absolute tank. The guy trying to stop him just gets run right over.

Like I said earlier, the only time you get a fair catch is if you’ve leapt into the air. Otherwise, you’re always fair game.

14. Still No Fair Catches

Like I said earlier, the only time you get a fair catch is if you’ve leapt into the air. Otherwise, you’re always fair game.

Okay, this one is too much. This kind of thing can break a guy’s neck

13. Dangerous Upender

Okay, this one is too much. This kind of thing can break a guy’s neck

The best thing about this one is how easy the dude doing the tackling makes it look. He’s like, ho hum, just throwing a grown man over my head, no big deal.

12. Over the Top

The best thing about this one is how easy the dude doing the tackling makes it look. He’s like, ho hum, just throwing a grown man over my head, no big deal.

GIFs don’t have sound, but I think I heard a crunch anyway.

11. Crunch

GIFs don’t have sound, but I think I heard a crunch anyway.

Don’t make passes like this. It’ll get your teammates killed. Like, for real.

10. Dangerous Pass

Don’t make passes like this. It’ll get your teammates killed. Like, for real.

Here’s another one that’s actually Aussie football, not rugby. So sue me.

9. Aussie Head Shot

Here’s another one that’s actually Aussie football, not rugby. So sue me.

The dude in yellow definitely had a shot at the ball, but you can’t lead with your cleats like that.

8. Cleat to the Chest

The dude in yellow definitely had a shot at the ball, but you can’t lead with your cleats like that.

You have to admire the little guy’s effort. He had to know the only thing he could do to this guy is slow him down for a second, but he sacrificed himself for the team.

7. Hit by a Bus

You have to admire the little guy’s effort. He had to know the only thing he could do to this guy is slow him down for a second, but he sacrificed himself for the team.

Sometimes the guys just get a little too worked up. That’s when stuff like this happens.

6. Celebratory Head Butt

Sometimes the guys just get a little too worked up. That’s when stuff like this happens.

Taking a knee to the side of the head at full speed probably doesn’t feel so great. Just guessing, though. Never happened to me.

5. Referee Down

Taking a knee to the side of the head at full speed probably doesn’t feel so great. Just guessing, though. Never happened to me.

Where do you think you’re going? Yeah, nowhere, that’s right.

4. Dead in His Tracks

Where do you think you’re going? Yeah, nowhere, that’s right.

I could watch this one all day.

3. Sudden Impact

I could watch this one all day.

One more time: there are no fair catches in rugby when your feet are on the ground.

2. Sitting Duck

One more time: there are no fair catches in rugby when your feet are on the ground.

The most amazing rugby tackle GIF? It comes from a high school rugby match in New Zealand.

Just epic.

1. High School Rugby

The most amazing rugby tackle GIF? It comes from a high school rugby match in New Zealand.